Monday, March 29, 2010

Radio Romania International (RRI) has resumed a weekly podcast in English, with an RSS feed. RRI’s program, broadcast on Sunday at 1700 UTC, will be available on the WRN servers and also on podcast directories, such as iTunes and Juicer.(Source: Radio Romania International/etherlands Media Network Weblog)

Bolivia6134.73, Radio Santa Cruz, 1040-1100. Heard a person who sounded like a cartoon character talking in Spanish language. Then again, it could have been an older person. This possibly was a radio drame. Audio was just bad enough where details were difficult to catch. Signal drops from a poor to threshold by the top of the hour. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

China9450, China Radio International, 1112-1125. Noted a female in unknown language, listed as Mongolian listed. Spots in Chinese with news. At 1115 a male takes over comments. Signal was good and listed as Xian being used for relay. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Clandestine5910 Shiokaze *1400-1430.* Usual piano opening routine and man/woman in Japanese talk to 1425, then closedown routine and off at exactly 1430. Good signal.(John Wilkins-CO)

Indonesia9525.89, Voice of Indonesia, *0953-1015. Sign on in unidentified language. Local pop music. English at 1000 with news. IDs. Too weak at sign on to ID the language but improved somewhat by 1000. Still too weak at 1000 to pull out many program details. (Brian Alexander, PA)

4749.95, RRI Makassar, 1100-1115. At tune in, heard a male briefly comment which was probably an ID, then a female continue with news in Indonesian language. At 1110, the male returns with comments. This signal was poor and fading to threshold by 1115(Chuck Bolland, FL)

9525.866, Voice of Indonesia, 1125-1135. Noted music program to female's comments between tunes in English.tat6ion ID noted as, "Voice of Indonesia." Additional announcer at 1128, as signal was fair. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

4925 RRI Jambi(presumed) 1320-1335+. Sub-continental and other music. Fair signal but could not tell if power increase, or make out much since the band noise here is still S-9. First time heard in several weeks.(John Wilkins-CO)

India (Goa)15175, All India Radio (Panaji), 1549-1559, Gujarati. Talk by man and woman with some music, possibly a drama. Good signal strength with a few momentary cutouts. Unfortunately, abysmal audio, muffled and mushy, made the signal almost painful to hear, especially when music was played. Announcement by man at 1559, then gone. (Jim Evans, TN)

4850, AIR Kohima, 1214. Naga Christian songs to 1300 program highlights of English and Hindi. Sports show explaining about billiards and snooker. Usual Naga segment to 1340-1358 news (Hindi/English) with mostly items about Nagaland Governor Kumar (reception held at Mokokchung town hall; remarks made at Nagaland University)plus charity football exhibition match held in Kohima and item about the shortage of manpower at the AIR Kohima station; from 1358 till suddenly off at 1423: rock music show. Reception much better than yesterday, but still had a few occurrences with short breaks in their broadcast (Ron Howard,Asilomar Beach, CA)

7295 Traxx FM 1117-1149+. Pop music, hosted in English by male announcer. Five minute talk by lady announcer at 1145. Followed by more music, tuned out at 1151. Fair signal with significant 7290/7300 splatter. Re-checked at 1201 and the freq had been taken over by a strong Chinese station. (John Wilkins, CO)

Palau9975, Nippon no Kaze (Medorn), 1509-1521, Korean. Man and woman talking with an occasional few bars of music. Slow, deliberate talk by man over music at 1517. Asian music at 1521. Poor signal, declining throughout the broadcast. (Jim Evans, TN)

Papua New Guinea3260 NBC Madang(presumed) 1209-1235+. Male/female announcers in animated talk. Musical break at 1224, followed by more talk. Fair signal, check the frequency and they were still there at 1300 and 1330, although weaker. (John Wilkins-CO)

3275 Radio Southern Highlands(presumed) 1156-1209+. Vocal music to 1201, followed by male announcer's talk to 129 tune-out. Sounded like English but not sure. Fair at best. Still there at 1300 and 1330 rechecks. Other PNG's noted on 3260, 3290, 3315, 3365, and 3905. (John Wilkins-CO)

Peru6019.30, Radio Victoria, 0815-0830. Noted Victoria without any serious interference at this hour except for splatter from Radio Marti on 6030. Female announcer's comments in Spanish. Splatter noted via Radio Marti, overwhelms Victoria making it barely audible by 0830. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Portugal17745, Sudan Radio Service (Sines), 1536-1546, English. Man and woman talking about elections with mention of Sudan. Brief music at 1539 followed by woman talking about the National Election Commission. At 1543 two women discussed appropriate behavior if your candidate loses. Moderate signal with extremely deep fades into the noise. (Jim Evans, TN)

Suriname4989.94, Radio Apintie, (presumed), 1101-1115. Caught a very weak signal here, with a person in comments. Cannot pull out any details due to the threshold signal. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

USA11715, KJES (Vado, NM), 1522-1525, Spanish. Talk by woman. Strong signal with low audio and tremendous hum. Really not worth expending the power required to broadcast the signal if this is the best audio they can produce. (Jim Evans, TN)

3252.70, WWRB, 0840-0850. Noted a female in English with program comments. Noted the signal being muffled and weak. This is a "Spur" from a placed called Manchester. I don't have the State unfortunately. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Russia reduced the number of its time zones to nine from 11 today after President Dmitry Medvedev said this could make the nation more manageable to run and boost its economy. Mr Medvedev said in a state of the nation address last November that the sprawling nation ought to reduce the number of its time zones, and that China and the United States ran efficiently with much fewer time zones.

As Russia adjusted its clocks forward one hour this morning (March 28) to shift to summer time, its easternmost Chukotka and Kamchatka peninsulas, located near the US state of Alaska, went from being nine hours ahead of Moscow to eight, joining the same time zone as the neighboring Magadan region.

The Samara region on the Volga river and Udmurtia in the Urals - the European part of Russia - lost their own time zone one hour ahead of Moscow and were brought into line with Moscow time.

Kemerovo, the only Siberian region four hours ahead of Moscow, joined a group of Siberian regions three hours ahead of the Russian capital.

Russia occupies some 17 million square km (6.6 million square miles), making it by far the largest nation in the world, and covers more than a ninth of the Earth’s land area. President Medvedev has suggested that the number of Russia’s time zones could eventually be reduced to just five. He has also told government experts to study whether to continue the practice of shifting summer to winter time and back every year.(Source: Reuters/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) today called on Iran to stop jamming foreign radio and television broadcasts, following European complaints. ITU spokesman Sanjay Acharya said that “interference emanating from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran… appear to be of a nature which is forbidden under radio regulations.” The ITU’s radio regulation board “urged the administration of Iran to continue its efforts in locating the source of interference and to eliminate it as a matter of the highest priority.” he added.

The regulation board issued its call following a complaint lodged by France on behalf of the management of the Eutelsat telecommunications satellite whose emissions to Iran were being jammed. Acharya acknowledged that the ITU could not impose any sanctions against Tehran before its next world congress in some two years’ time. “What we can do at this moment is to add pressure on the government of Iran,” he said.

EU foreign ministers on Monday vowed to “act” against the Iranian state’s unacceptable jamming of satellite broadcasts and Internet controls, showing the bloc’s increasing impatience with Tehran. Nearly 70 foreign radio and television stations that transmit via the Eutelsat satellite to Iran were jammed on 11 February, the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, they said.(Source: AFP/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):10.00 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 1206519.00 East and central Africa 11970 and 15535, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN12.00 North America17.00 Europe

*** The State We're In - Midweek Edition ***

Jonathan Groubert and his team look at current events from an unexpected perspective

Child witches: In parts of Southern Nigeria most people believe in witchcraft. The last few years has seen a worrying trend in accusing children of the practise. Some have suffered horrible abuse as a consequence. Sam Ikpe-Itauma has been trying to help them. He set up a centre in 2003 and now has more than two hundred children seeking shelter there. He's attempting to change attitudes and minds in a hostile environment.

Witches camps: There are six witches camps in Northern Ghana. They're places of sanctuary for women who've been accused of witchcraft. Perhaps a baby has died or someone in their village has contracted malaria. In this part of the world it's generally witchcraft that is blamed. An American journalist travels to Gambaga and witnesses first hand an accused witch being brought into the camp.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):10.30 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 1206518.30 East and central Africa 15535, Southern Africa 602020.30 East and central Africa 11970, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN04.30 Africa, Asia and North America22.30 Asia and North America

*** Commonwealth Story ***

A selection of winning stories chosen from the large number of entries for the 2009 Commonwealth Short Story Competition.

'You Can't Miss It' - By Felicia Johnston from Australia. Katie is drawn back to her childhood home.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):10.00 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 12065

Broadcast times on WRN10.00 Africa and Asia22.00 Asia and North America

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):14.00 South Asia 11835, 1574518.00 East and central Africa 15535, Southern Africa 602020.00 East and central Africa 11970, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):04.30 Africa, Asia and North America17.00 Europe22.00 Asia and North America

THURSDAY 1 APRIL*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):10.00 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 1206519.00 East and central Africa 11970 and 15535, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN12.00 North America17.00 Europe

*** Earth Beat ***

Marnie Chesterton and her team look at the footprint we're leaving on our planet.

We speak to those doing good deeds for the planet; an archbishop prepared to go the extra mile and give up carbon, the creator of Lent Roulette whose own challenge was to pee outside for 40 days and 40 nights. And we hear what people are feeling guilty about in Mumbai, Delhi and Sydney. Self-sacrifice and confessions in the next edition of Earth Beat.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):14.30 South Asia 11835, 1574518.30 East and central Africa 15535, Southern Africa 602020.30 East and central Africa 11970, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):04.30 Africa, Asia and North America17.30 Europe

*** Radio Books (repeat program) ***

'The Coward's Crusade - by Jan van Aken'

Author Jan van Aken has been called 'the Dutch Umberto Eco' because of his elegant, witty and complex historical stories. Since his literary debut in 2000 he has written five novels, the latest being King for a Day set in the 6th century B.C. For Radio Books, van Aken brings us back to the European Middle Ages: a time of crusades, Holy Wars and - in this case - a forbidden love affair between a lowly Master of Arms and a beautiful Countess.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):10.00 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 12065

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):10.00 Africa and Asia22.00 Asia and North America

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):10.00 East and Southeast Asia 11895, South Asia 15110, China 1206519.00 East and central Africa 11970 and 15535, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN12.00 North America17.00 Europe

*** Bridges with Africa (primary program) ***

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children

and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):14.00 South Asia 11835, 1574518.00 East and central Africa 15535, Southern Africa 602020.00 East and central Africa 11970, West Africa 11610, Southern and central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):04.30 Africa, Asia and North America17.00 Europe22.00 Asia and North America

*** Classic Dox ***

Becoming Rebecca West (Orig. Broadcast May 2005)

British writer Rebecca West's life spanned most of the 20th century. At 14 she became involved in the suffrage movement, had affairs with Charlie Chaplin and H.G. Wells, and Time Magazine called her the greatest women's writer in the world. Her great-niece and an actress talk to David Swatling about how they were inspired by her.

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):14.04 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 1559515.04 South and Southeast Asia 12080, 1559518.04 East Africa 12045, Central and East Africa 11655, South Africa 602020.04 West Africa 21525, 11655, South and Central Africa 7425

Broadcast times on WRN14.04 Europe22.00 Asia23.00 North America and CBC(R Netherlands)

Repairs to a storm-damaged antenna at the international transmitting site of HCJB Global-Australia were completed in mid-February, allowing the station’s Chinese and Japanese language broadcasts to return to the air.

Strong winds had damaged the antenna at the Kununurra-based site in late January. A team consisting of Dave Brewster, Mike Ewers, Daniel Forrer and Greg Wilson assessed damages to a broken tower guy wire and seven broken element guy wires. The broadcast team assembled all materials needed for the repairs. Dennis Pease traveled from Perth, Western Australia, to supervise repairs.

Rains during Kununurra’s wet season made the ground too soft to use a crane, so Pease and Wilson climbed the tower, assisted by staff on the ground. Replacing the broken guy cable made the tower secure. Then they dismantled the broken section of the antenna, hauled up a new section, and fitted and secured it.

The repairs were completed on Thursday, Feb. 11, and regular programming in Chinese and Japanese resumed the next day after being off the air for 12 days. “Several Japanese DXers wrote to us regarding loss of signal,” said Peter Penford, the studio manager. “One of them in particular often writes.”

By Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands Media NetworkSupport services provider VT Group has expanded its network of shortwave transmission customers with a contract to broadcast programming from Radio Australia. VT, which has over 40 customers for its broadcast services, will output ten hours a day of Radio Australia programming to audiences in South East Asia. The content will be in English, Indonesian, Chinese and Burmese.VT has a worldwide network of transmitter sites and the programming will be broadcast from locations in the United Arab Emirates and Palau in the Pacific Ocean. The programming will be downlinked from Radio Australia’s satellite channels to VT’s central London Media Management Centre for scheduling and frequency management. VT will then utilize its Global Media Network to backhaul the programmes to the two transmitter sites.The contract will be for a year and follows VT’s recent success in adding the Polish state broadcaster Polskie Radio to its global transmission customer base.VT’s John Prior, General Manager Broadcast and Security, said: ”Having previously transmitted Radio Australia programming until 2006, we are delighted that they have re-joined the network of broadcasters using VT’s facilities. It extends our broadcast service customer base and we hope to increase our partnership with Radio Australia further within the scope of the contract.”(NASB)

by Md. Azizul Alam Al-Amin, excerpted from January 2010 Monitoring Times

It is clear that, even now, there is not an appropriate alternative to shortwave broadcasting, at least in the rural places, where people have no access to Internet, no devices to receive satellite signals, no television or even newspaper or electricity. In so many places in the world, shortwave broadcasts are the main source of news, information and entertainment, and the reality is that most of the world’s population lives in these areas.

In the last century, the discovery of shortwave technology made an important breakthrough to bring the world together as a "global village." And, shortwave radio has been enjoying a dominant position throughout most of the last century because it can reach across borders even when governments halt FM broadcasts, block Internet sites and jam television programming.

Graham Mytton, a former head of the BBC’s audience research unit said "Shortwave does not respect boundaries and reaches the rich and poor." Ian McFarland, former host and writer at Radio Canada International said, "Shortwave also can deliver news faster than you might find it online, and in places where your other devices don’t work."

Vincent Nowicki, director of the engineering and technical operations at America’s International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB), also recognized the importance of shortwave. In the response to Jack Quinn and Nick Olguin’s guest commentary on the Broadcasting Board of Governors, "Don’t Close Shortwaves, Improve Them," published in Radio World, he said, "The BBG is keenly aware of the value of shortwave in distinct markets such as some parts of Africa and parts of Asia. Shortwave sustained international broadcasting throughout the Cold War and still makes a significant mark today in the global war on terror." There are so many people around the world who still favor shortwave as the prime vehicle of international broadcasting.(NASB)

by Rumen Pankov and Ivo Ivanov of Radio Bulgaria, via Yimber Gaviria in Colombia

In 2009 a large number of stations cut part of their shortwave programming, and other transmitters went off the air. New stations came on the air and other old stations resumed their transmissions after a long interruption. On January 1st, 2010 a new public radio station, Radio Vidin, began operating in northeastern Bulgaria.

On shortwave, Irish radio began to broadcast again for an hour each day, and on Vanuatu in the Pacific, a shortwave transmitter came back on the air. A station called Super Radio Dios del Amor began to be heard. This station was the successor to Radio Tupi in Curitiba. Despite comments by the management of the Voice of America and the BBC that broadcasts on shortwave were not necessary, the two stations created new programs for the Caucusus, and Radio Liberty began a special program called "The Eco of the Caucuses."

Almost all international stations abandoned the new spectrum assigned to radio amateurs from 7100 to 7200 kHz, in which two exotic transmitters from Guinea and Somalia began to operate on 7125 and 7145 kHz, respectively. In July of 2009 the BBC carried out experimental transmissions to Antarctica. On Nov. 14 the traditional annual broadcast of Radio Saint Helena took place in the Atlantic. The program was heard by few listeners due to low solar activity.

A new Christian station from the United States, WJHR, began experimental transmissions on shortwave. In April 2009 to mark the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the KBC broadcast from the Netherlands a special series of musical programs. The 25th of April was officially proclaimed for U.S. stations Willis Conover Day, the presenter and host of a program dedicated to world jazz in the 20th Century [on the VOA]. Another legendary radio program, "Happy Station," broadcast from 1925 to 1995, interrupted during the Second World War years, via Radio Netherlands, was re-established and began to broadcast on shortwave from Radio Miami in the U.S.

In 2009 a large number of political programs came on the air destined for countries like Zimbabwe, North Korea, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Madagascar, and broadcast by transmitters located in Germany, Japan and the United Arab Emirates, among other countries. The year 2009 will be remembered also for the strikes at two important radio organizations, one in France and other in India. The events at Radio France International began at the start of 2009 after it was learned that authorities planned to shut down some of the overseas broadcasts.

During the solar eclipse of April 26th, anomalies in shortwave broadcasting were noted, typical for that phenomenon. The year 2009 will also be remembered for the closure of Radio Vilnius and Radio Ratia in Lithuania, Radio Center in Latvia, Radio Peace for Afghanistan, Radio Star from Liberia, the Radio Reading Service of New Zealand and Radio Vlaanderen in Belgium. Dec. 31, 2009 was the last day of transmission on shortwave for Radio Austria and the Radio of the French-speaking Community of Belgium.(NASB)

During the year 2009 the activity of political clandestine stations broadcasting on shortwave has decreased by 13.4 % to 1088 Weekly Broadcasting Hours (WBHs). This is the lowest level of activity ever recorded since this survey has been introduced in the year 1986 (so far the low had been 1116 WBHs in the year 1999).

The activity of clandestine stations broadcasting to target areas on the Asian continent has dropped by 18.7 % to 744 WBHs. On the American continent the activity has decreased by 8.4 % to 197 WBHs. However, on the African continent the activity has even increased (although from a very low level) by 21.5 % to 147 WBHs.

For the second year in a row the most active target area worldwide is North Korea with 252 WBHs (+7 when compared with last year), followed by China P.R. with 226 WBHs (+2). On the third place is Cuba with 197 WBHs (-18).

The number of different target areas active worldwide has remained unchanged at 17, although some changes have occurred. While Laos and Iran are no longer thought to be active, Madagascar and Sudan have emerged as new/reactivated target areas.(NASB)